Eco Travel Directory: Contemplating summer fun?

I know I am. With the warm season just around bend, it's got me thinking about local adventure tours for long weekends and far-flung eco-lodges for early fall retreats. Of course, booking now (while it's still relatively early) means getting the best deals.

One of my favorite resources for eco-tours and lodging is Sustainable Travel International's online directory, found here. From A (Alaska!) to Z (Zip-lining!), there are plenty of choices for selective globetrotters.

Some other simple suggestions for summer travel:

• Utilize mass transportation when available (In Europe, trains are a great way to get around.)
  
  
• Buy local, fair trade products and souvenirs when traveling. Not only will you be scoring beautiful buys, you'll be supporting the local economy.
  
  
• Be an alternative traveler. Ask for hybrids at the car rental, use solar-power charges to juice up your devices, and pack additional reusable bags for your return home so you don't rely on plastic or paper.
  
  
• Consider volunteering. Voluntoursim devotes one day (or every day) of a vacation to giving back to the local community. One recent example is the launch of The Ritz-Carlton's "Give Back Getaways", featured in USA Today.

Whichever you choose, find a way to immerse yourself in your destination. If you're truly ready for a change of pace, you can even consider a caravan holiday home. In its sun-streaked hills, plenty of North Wales caravans exist... and many of those are caravans for sale. A just-the-right-size holiday home in the stunning expanse of Wales seems appropriate to me. Why not think big when going global?

This post sponsored by Marine Holiday Park.